Will the Thunder play the entire season without a true backup center?

On Saturday, news circulated that the ex-Thunder big man Kendrick Perkins had suddenly found himself as a free agent after the Cleveland Cavaliers decided to waive him.

Here, Moke Hamilton wondered whether the Thunder should consider bringing him back considering the fact that the team doesn’t really have a true backup center. There are some, however, that would scoff at the notion considering the fact that there aren’t many traditional, post-playing big men in the league that strike fear into the heart of the opposition.

In some ways, adding Perkins, or a player like him, could actually handicap the Thunder. Considering the fact that the team is projected to be paying the luxury tax, it might not make sense to sign Perkins and add money to the ledger, only to have him sit on the bench.

There was sixth man Enes Kanter, longtime veteran Nick Collison, power forward Ersan Ilyasova and center Joffrey Lauvergne to go with a starting frontcourt of Domantas Sabonis and Steven Adams. It was an intentional strategy for a team coming off a disappointing summer: Much of the NBA was going small, so maybe going big would help punish mini-squads.

The Thunder realized quickly that it didn’t.

Katz does recognize the possibility that the Thunder could eventually realize the need for an additional big man, but based on what he’s written, it sounds as though the team is content rolling into the regular season playing some of their smaller, lengthier lineups and seeing where that leads them.

The Thunder will enter the regular season one short of the maximum 15 players they’re allowed. At some point, they could absolutely sign a backup 5. They could bring one in on a two-for-one trade, too. The open spot allows for the flexibility. And they have a goal to improve there come the postseason.

But the playoffs are far away, and Adams sat for only 18 minutes a night a season ago. And for now, the Thunder believe they’re talented enough to make up for the flaws that come in those 18.

It’s why they have gotten so small with their second unit. It’s why the urgency to find a backup center won’t be present until they step closer to the trade deadline and buyout season.

Unfortunately for those that would like to see Perkins return to the Thunder, the big man has let it be known that he plans on continuing to pursue a comeback, as a player. If that’s not in the cards, it doesn’t sound like he’ll have any problem finding employment in a front office.

Either way, at the moment, it doesn’t seem that the Thunder is pressed to add a 15th body to the roster—big man or otherwise.

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